Letter from Florence Nightingale to Alice Green on September 29th, 1884 advising her about her candidacy for a mistress-ship at Girton College, Cambridge.

Item

Transcription: September 29, 1884 Michaelmas Day Claydon House Winslow, [Buckinghamshire] My dear Mrs. Green On this day I wish you the strength of St. Michael, as he stands, with his wings bearing him up, on the Castle of Sant’Angelo at Rome (as I have often seen him in the light of dawn) – just torching the earth, gentle & sweet, but all his enemies trodden under foot by his mere spiritual force. So, I see you at Girton
only your enemies will be the tittle-tattle, tea table criticism of bevy of well-meaning severe females, your weapons, your pluck and wit, laughing where others would cry – a rare gift your service purpose and intense sympathy. God bless you Believe me ever yours F. Nightingale I hope to see you soon in London and to talk over things. I am sure that Mr. Creighton had very good reasons for his advice and that therefore you are right to follow it. St. Michael will have to walk warily as well as firmly – not knowing at first who are friends and who are foes. I rejoice that Dr. Brunton thinks you fit in bodily health for the work – tho’ wishing, like him, it were a year hence. Do you know that Lady [Pomeroy Colloy?] is also in the field? - not fit for the post
Title
Letter from Florence Nightingale to Alice Green on September 29th, 1884 advising her about her candidacy for a mistress-ship at Girton College, Cambridge.
Description
Transcription:
September 29, 1884
Michaelmas Day
Claydon House
Winslow, [Buckinghamshire]
My dear Mrs. Green
On this day I wish you the strength of St. Michael, as he stands, with his wings bearing him up, on the Castle of Sant’Angelo at Rome (as I have often seen him in the light of dawn) – just torching the earth, gentle & sweet, but all his enemies trodden under foot by his mere spiritual force. So, I see you at Girton only your enemies will be the tittle-tattle, tea table criticism of bevy of well-meaning severe females, your weapons, your pluck and wit, laughing where others would cry – a rare gift your service purpose and intense sympathy.
God bless you
Believe me ever yours
F. Nightingale
I hope to see you soon in London and to talk over things.
I am sure that Mr. Creighton had very good reasons for his advice and that therefore you are right to follow it.
St. Michael will have to walk warily as well as firmly – not knowing at first who are friends and who are foes.
I rejoice that Dr. Brunton thinks you fit in bodily health for the work – tho’ wishing, like him, it were a year hence.
Do you know that Lady [Pomeroy Colloy?] is also in the field? - not fit for the post
Date
Sept. 29, 1884.
Format
2 pages.
Language
English.
Subject
Green, Alice Stopford, 1848-1929, Correspondence.
Nightingale, Florence, 1820-1910, Correspondence.
Type
Letter.
Site pages
1884 Letters